Albany Heights suffers damage

The six-story building that formerly housed elderly and low income residents needs repair after part of its second story balcony banister collapsed Wednesday.

The damage may be caused by a combination of wind, heavy rain, and age.

Caution tape surrounds the debris at 245 Pine Avenue, and officials with the City of Albany will inspect the damage today.

The city took control of the Heights after a public-private consortium operated it for several years, accepting the property in foreclosure in June and moved the last 30 residents to other affordable housing in November.

"Right now we are in the strategic planning stage. Have the building assessed. For major repair needs in order to determine what the true maintenance needs are with the building," Said Shelena Hawkins of the Albany Community & EDC.

City leaders are exploring options for Albany Heights but hope it can be turned into a commercial and residential mixed use building.

Built in 1925 as the New Albany Hotel, it was a marvel of the times, with circulated ice water, 115 rooms, each with a bath, a coffee shop, and banquet facilities.

Albany's first radio station, WGPC, broadcasted from the hotel for decades before it moved to its Gillionville Road studio and transmitter.